A flood-hit crematorium is unlikely to reopen until next month and is considering building a temporary chapel as it struggles to repair the damage.

Randalls Park Crematorium in Leatherhead was inundated when the River Mole burst its banks before Christmas and it had hoped to reopen at the end of last week.

But the grounds were flooded again last week and Dignity, which runs the crematorium, said today that damage to its chapel means it probably won't be able to hold funerals there until the end of the month.

It is investigating the possibility of constructing a temporary chapel and will begin replacing all the furniture, carpets and furnishings and redecorating this week.

A spokesman said: All parts of the grounds are now accessible for those wishing to visit the resting place of their loved ones and our staff and contractors are working hard to restore the gardens.

"The office is also accessible now and our staff are available should any of your readers need our help.

"We have informed all local funeral directors that it is unlikely that any funeral services will be able to take place during January as the chapel was damaged by the flood.

"However, the chapel is now dry and today we will begin to replace the carpets, furniture and furnishings and then redecorate - so it may be possible that we are operational before the end of this month.

"We are continuing to offer families and their funeral director the option of services at Dignity’s Surrey and Sussex Crematorium in Crawley.

"If any family does choose this option the ashes of their loved will be returned to Randall’s Park Crematorium for collection by the client or funeral director with no additional cost."